Some of the best late model drivers in the nation have made their way to the Knoxville Raceway this weekend for the Tenth Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals. Tonight and tomorrow night are the preliminary qualifying nights that will set up championship night on Saturday. The Late Model Nationals Format is very similar to the sprint car Nationals. 200 points go to the quickest qualifier, heat race results determine where a driver will start in the main events whether it is a C, B, or the A-Main. The winner of the the first two nights will each pocket $7,000 with the winner of the championship race on Saturday winning 40 grand and $2,500 to start. One difference to the sprint car Nationals is, drivers this weekend have the option of running both nights with their highest point total of the two nights being used to set their position on Saturday. Raceway General Manager Brian Stickel tells KNIA/KRLS Sports the drivers like the event at this time of the year, because it is after many of their regular point races. Hot laps are scheduled to get underway at around seven with time trials and racing to follow. Steve Francis is the defending champion while Scott Bloomquist is the only two-time winner of the event.